Creating and sharing the interconnected story of community led action: By the people for the people

For 14 incredible weeks,  Barne Barton and St Budeaux have been on a journey of discovery, connection, and co-creation. Through an inclusive co-design process, we've listened deeply, shared openly, and empowered local people to articulate their own vision for a thriving neighbourhood. This isn't just about identifying problems; it's about unearthing strengths, sparking ideas, and building a sustainable system of local people helping local people.

From Isolation to Connection: "Take My Hand" Magazine (now called The Buzz and in its 2nd edition)

Imagine a man sitting alone, curtains drawn, overwhelmed by loneliness. Then, a leaflet slips through his door – not just any leaflet, but "Take My Hand," a magazine born from the very heart of Barne Barton and St Budeaux. It's edited by local people, delivered by local people, and designed to help local people, its creating a local `Buzz`.
This isn't a glossy, impersonal publication. Its design is intentionally "skewed off," reflecting the unique character of our streets. Each street has its own dedicated distributors – neighbours talking to neighbours, discovering who needs a little extra help. It's like a neighbourhood watch, but for support and connection.
"Take My Hand" is a lifeline. It offers columns on financial, medical, and mental health support, details about therapeutic animals, and information on bereavement. But it's more than just a directory; it's a vibrant hub of community advertising, outings, cheap food, free food, friendships, and local activities.
Key learning: The power of peer-to-peer support and community-led information sharing can break cycles of isolation. By enabling local people to be both recipients and providers of help, we foster a truly sustainable system.

Safe Parks, Open Doors: The "Buddy System" for Outdoors

Our conversations also brought to light concerns about the safety and accessibility of local parks. Imagine children wanting to play but the park is unlit, inaccessible for those with disabilities, or littered.
The community's solution? A "Park Helpers" group, built on the successful "Buddy System." Local residents will team up to regularly check parks, ensuring they're needle-free, litter-free, and safe. The "buddy" concept extends to encouraging people to attend groups, addressing the barrier of simply getting out the door. It's about accompanying and supporting each other, whether it's to a group or to tidy a park.
This group also envisions a future where they can secure funding for vital equipment, like disabled-friendly play structures. They even see an overlap with the "Take My Hand" initiative, where buddies could connect people to gardening opportunities within the park, fostering both physical activity and social connection.
Key learning: Addressing practical barriers with community-driven solutions builds ownership and encourages active participation. Merging initiatives creates a more robust and interconnected support network.

Bridging Gaps: Accessible Services and Neurodiversity Inclusion

A significant theme that emerged was the need for accessible services and inclusive spaces, particularly for those who feel "abandoned" or ignored by traditional provisions. There's a clear understanding that while some groups are catered for, a large cohort of children aged 5-9, and neurodiverse adults, are often overlooked.
The community's vision involves utilizing underused local spaces, like the large venue in Barne Barton, to bring services and activities directly to people. This includes:

• A "Bumper-to-Bumper Bus": A mobile hub bringing form-filling help (including benefits maximization), health advice, and even pick-ups for shopping trips, directly to the community.
• "Compassionate Cafes": Building on existing partnerships, these spaces will offer support for issues like loss and grief, meeting people where they are already comfortable.
• Inclusive Social Hubs: Creating spaces like evening gaming clubs for adults, where neurodiverse individuals can engage in activities they enjoy without feeling segregated, ensuring accessibility for all.
  The focus here is on meeting people where they're at, both physically and emotionally. It's about building trusting relationships between the community and services, rather than expecting people to navigate complex, often intimidating, systems.
  Key learning: Proximity and accessibility are paramount for engaging underserved communities. Inclusive design means understanding diverse needs and creating spaces where everyone feels they belong and can participate. The power of conversation and listening is the foundation for truly impactful community knowledge and action.

The Value of Our Journey: Celebrating Co-Creation

This 14-week journey has been a powerful testament to the value of contribution-led, 'Do-With' neighbourhood co-creation. The insights and solutions articulated by our participants in Barne Barton and St Budeaux aren't just ideas; they are deeply felt needs translated into actionable plans, built on the inherent strengths and wisdom of the community itself.
Key Learning Points from the Process:

• Deep Listening is Foundational: Techniques like Three-Way Sharing allowed for profound insights that traditional surveys often miss.
• Learning by Doing Builds Confidence: Empowering participants to use new skills (like Three-Way Sharing) in their own networks amplified their confidence and sense of ownership.
• Informal Invitations Drive Participation: Personal asks and valuing individual contributions are far more effective than rigid, predefined roles.
• Storytelling Articulates Vision: Using tools like the "Cover Story Mock-up" helped groups vividly imagine and clearly communicate their desired future.
• Interconnectedness Amplifies Impact: Recognizing how different initiatives can merge and support each other creates a stronger, more resilient community fabric.
• Asset-Based Approach: Focusing on existing strengths and passions within the community unlocks incredible potential for change.
  This interconnected story, passionately articulated by the participants themselves, is a powerful narrative for local funders. It demonstrates not just needs, but tangible, community-owned solutions with clear impact pathways. It showcases an engaged, capable, and self-organizing community ready to drive positive change.
  To celebrate these achievements and acknowledge the incredible contributions of everyone involved, we co-produced a Christmas party with the participants. It's a joyful embodiment of our "Do-With" ethos – a recognition that the process of co-creation isn't just about outcomes, but about building relationships, celebrating efforts, and strengthening the bonds that make a community truly thrive.